School board needs policy on religious materials

If religious materials are to be allowed on the grounds of public schools, the policy discussed for the Buncombe County School Board on Monday is about as good as any. Still, there are pitfalls.

The discussion grew out of controversy early this year over the availability of Bibles in the office at North Windy Ridge Intermediate School. A parent who is a pagan protested.

The administrative policy outlined Monday essentially would allow high schools to set up an annual after-hours fair as which various organizations, religious and otherwise, could distribute materials. It does not require board approval.

"For one day each school year, each high school shall facilitate a community information event and allow community organizations, including religious organizations, to participate in the event," the policy says. School Board attorney Dean Shatley stressed that all organizations, not just religious ones, are invited.

Organizations must apply at least two weeks before the event. If there is insufficient space to accommodate all who apply, space will be allotted on a first-come, first-serve basis.

"The intent here was to really take this out of the realm of just religious organizations," Shatley said. "It's supposed to be an event for organizations that help families and kids. The YMCA could be there, parks and recreation could be there, Eblen charities, and so on," he said.

This appears to insulate as far as possible the schools from either promoting or discouraging any particular religion. By allowing any community organization to participate, a school does not have to decide what is and is not a religion.

Of course, the school does have to decide what is and is not a community organization. How do you allow religious organizations to participate and not allow, say, the Christian Identity hate group?

The policy does contain guidelines. It bars material that "is vulgar, indecent or obscene; contains libelous statements or personal attacks of others; encourages the commission of unlawful acts or acts that violate school rules; is commercial in nature, including the advertising of a product or service for profit; or promotes unhealthy or illegal activities by children, such as tobacco or alcohol use."

Existing policies say that organizations eligible include "agencies/departments within city, county, state or federal government; Parent Teacher Associations/organizations or school booster clubs; licensed day care providers operating on campus; higher education institutions, if materials relate to educational opportunities for school-age students;

"School/business partnerships or incentive programs that directly enhance or support the school's educational program; not-for-profit community organizations with youth participation that offer educational, recreational, cultural or character development activities or programs for school-aged children."

Still, there will be some tough judgment calls that place yet one more burden on principals. That point was made by Owen High School Principal Meg Turner. "The public has always been welcome to rent our facilities or to approach us with community events," Turner said.

"But with this policy we are left to decide who gets to bring what religious materials into our schools, and to organize all these groups with very opposing viewpoints into a fair, cohesive event. It's a mistake to leave this in our laps."

"Personally, I think it's a mistake to have the event at all," said Jackie Simms, president of the Ethical Society of Asheville.

"I think that it will be very difficult to manage the affair in a fair and equitable way, and we definitely have concerns about church and state separation."

If the board adopts this policy it will have to monitor the results and act quickly if there are abuses. What seems workable in theory may be not be workable in practice.

ADVERTISEMENT

ADVERTISEMENT

ADVERTISEMENT

Email this article

School board needs policy on religious materials

If religious materials are to be allowed on the grounds of public schools, the policy discussed for the Buncombe County School Board on Monday is about as good as any. Still, there are pitfalls.